Improvement in clothes-lines



. L. SWETT. CLOTHES-LINE.

Patented Feb. 29,1876.

I nventor Witnesses height.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

LORENZO SWETT, OF SAN FRANOISOQ CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-LINES.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,166, dated February 29, 1876; application filed August 10, 1875.

and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention without further invention-or experiment.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel device formaking a small space available for the purpose of drying clothes; and it consists in the employment ofa series of transverse or other frames suitably guided, so that, by means of pulleys and cords and an operating Windlass, the lines can be elevated. successively as fast as filled and to any desired Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure l is a perspective view of my machine.

A A are frames for the purpose of attach ing lines B. These frames may be placed as far apart as the space will admit of, and may be fitted to receive a single line for each pair, one above the other, or they may be fitted to receive two or more lines side by side,-as shown. I prefer to fit these frames so that they will be guided by upright posts O at their centers, the post being supported at the top by means of a transverse bar, D, or they may be supported by any permanent structures, if any are available. If not, I build a frame, E E, which is as high as may be needed to allow two, four, or more lines or series oflines,with their quantity of clothes, to be elevated to a proper height. If desired, the central guiding-posts 0 may be dispensed with, and the frame-posts E E could'be made to serve as guides; but this, it is manifest, will be immaterial. The framesAA are connected together by cords or chains F, which extend from one to another of the frames to which they are secured, so that the frames will be drawn up successively, beginning at the topmost one. When this frame has reached a point sufficiently high to allow the clothes upon its lines to swing clear from the next frame below, that one begins to rise, and thus all the frames will be successively elevated. In order to accomplish this elevation of the frames, I employ ropes G, which pass over pulleys H at each end of the frame E. From these points the ropes lead to thecentenwhcre they pass over pulleys I, and thence extend down to a windlass, J, which is situated within easy reach.

If desired, the ropes G may be united at a central point, so that only a single rope will be wound upon the Windlass, to prevent foullng.

By this device I am enabled to utilize a very small space of yard-room to dry all the clothes which may be necessary, and the operationwill be very easy, as the upper line, being stopped at a suitable height above the ground, can be filled with clothes, then elevated out of the way, at the same time bringing the second line or lines to the proper height, and thus all the lines may be filled successively.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The device consisting of the bars or frames A A, with their connecting line or lines B B, said bars being united so as to be elevated successively at stated intervals, substantially as and for thepurpose herein described.

, LORENZO SWETT.

Witnesses:

GEo. H. STRONG, J N0. L. BooNE. 

